Zone Change

Tuesday, 3 June 2014 05:39

Familiar name in Woodstock business attempting to bring a new and diverse industry to the city.

WOODSTOCK -- The former Thomas Built Bus facility in west Woodstock could literally be growing into something new.

Nik Van Haeren is heading up Ontario Marihuana Growers, which is currently waiting for authorization to be a licensed producer of Medical Marihuana under the Medical Marihuana Production Regulation program from Health Canada.

Van Haeren says this week, OMG applied for the zone change for the Thomas Bus property on 275 Tecumseh Street, but says that's only part of a much larger process.

"The application process is a very in depth part of it, and the most stringent part is the security. The facility will actually end up being one of the most secure buildings in town, with full security screening, 24-hour monitored surveillance, and bio-metric entry."

Above and beyond, OMG intends to conduct security and background checks on all employees ensuring a safe and positive work environment.

Van Haeren says his application to Health Canada to become a licensed producer of medical marihuana is certainly not the only one.

"There's a number of people, not only locally within our region, but also straight across Canada. Currently there are hundreds of applications in, maybe in the two-to-three hundred range and only 13 to my knowledge have been approved so far."

If the application is successful, it could mean 100 to 150 new skilled positions for Woodstock.

The first step is securing the building and getting the proper zoning, a process Van Haeren says will include providing public notice which he adds will likely take 6-to-8 weeks.

The 120,000 square foot property is currently zoned "M4 - Transitional Industry." The intention is to add the provision to allow for Pharmaceutical and Drug products.

“This location has sat vacant for a few years now, says Van Haeren, "It is going to be great to get it fixed up, and cleaned up and something we can be proud of."

All marihuana will be grown indoors in a secure protected environment. Van Haeren promises the space would be controlled to make an optimum growing environment, producing consistent cannabis that will be held to the highest standards for patients.